WWII fiction is a broad and well populated genre. Between all the movies, stories and heroes there is a lot to choose from. This was a whole new experience I wasn't aware of for many. The Japanese took boats down, imprisoning those aboard, women, children and nurses.

Author Heather Morris did an incredible service telling the story of these very real people. While fiction at heart this is entirely based on real women and Australian nurses, showing the female side of these prisoner camps. I was incredibly moved by this story and the audiobook is even better with a compilation of choir and original songs made just for the audiobook. This absolutely blew me away and was extraordinarily powerful.

When the Japanese invaded Malaysia during WWII, European and Australian citizens were taken in the roundup. Men, women and children were herded into POW camps. The men were separated from the women and children and sent to different camps. Norah Chambers and her sister find themselves in a camp that includes a group of Australian nurses and a group of nuns. Nesta James is one of the head nurses and a central character. Nora and Nesta are key to the survival of many. But all the women must work together to manage the meager portions and maintain morale. Malnutrition, illness and despondency threaten the lives of everyone. Over time, meager rations are repeatedly cut and the women are relocated multiple times, making their situation more and more dire.

Nora is musically gifted and uses her talent to direct a choral group. They lack instruments so they perform classical instrumental pieces by simply using their voices. The music concerts lift the spirits of the women at a time when things are virtually hopeless.

Morris used the real horrific story of the women who were held captive for 3½ years. She details the trauma the women and children faced and the toll it took on them physically and emotionally. It is draining to read about the prolonged plight of these innocents who were detained for so long, despite being civilians. These were not service members, nor were they connected to the war effort. The women proved how resourceful they could be and the music they created is a testament to the human spirit and is a sign of hope.

The interactions of the women with the children and with each other are examples of amazing resiliency and strength. Many were lost to the conditions and ill treatment but those who survived shared their story which resulted in Morris’ account. This novel is powerful and inspiring - another triumph for this talented writer.

The audio was performed by Laura Carmichael who does a wonderful job. There are also two musical numbers included with the book narration, providing listeners with a sample of a vocal orchestra like the one that is featured in the novel.

Thanks for the opportunity to listen to this story. Sisters Under the Rising Sun is about women in war and how they bond together and help each other through every moment. Read by Laura Carmichael, written by Heather Morris, if you enjoy WWII fiction, you’ll want to listen.

Thank you to netgalley for a copy of the audiobook arc.

This book is not what I was expecting from a war novel. A ship is gunned down near Indonesia and the survivors make their way to the island. The survivors are forced to turn themselves into the Japanese and they are forced into an internment camp. The nurses band together to survive.

This is a story of the strength and courage of women during unimaginably difficult times. If you can, listen to the audiobook as it is narrated by Laura Carmichael. Author Heather Morris brings so much realism into her works. You can tell that she thoroughly researches her topics and cares deeply for the real people who her characters are based on.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC.

I like this author. I prefer her other works. I went in blind (again) so maybe if i read the description i maybe would have had idea what i would have gotten myself into :)

I did learn new things, i didnt know that they had concentration camps in Asia (if that is the correct terminology) .

Title: Sisters Under the Rising Sun
Author: Heather Morris
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating: 3.50
Pub Date: October 24, 2023

I received a complimentary finished and eARC copies of this book from St. Martin's Press, as well as ALC from Macmillan audio via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #Gifted #Ad

T H R E E • W O R D S

Harrowing • Inspirational • Valuable

📖 S Y N O P S I S

In the midst of World War II, an English musician, Norah Chambers, places her eight-year-old daughter Sally on a ship leaving Singapore, desperate to keep her safe from the Japanese army as they move down through the Pacific. Norah remains to care for her husband and elderly parents, knowing she may never see her child again.

Sister Nesta James, a Welsh Australian nurse, has enlisted to tend to Allied troops. But as Singapore falls to the Japanese she joins the terrified cargo of people, including the heartbroken Norah, crammed aboard the Vyner Brooke merchant ship. Only two days later, they are bombarded from the air off the coast of Indonesia, and in a matter of hours, the Vyner Brooke lies broken on the seabed.

After surviving a brutal 24 hours in the sea, Nesta and Norah reach the beaches of a remote island, only to be captured by the Japanese and held in one of their notorious POW camps. The camps are places of starvation and brutality, where disease runs rampant. Sisters in arms, Norah and Nesta fight side by side every day, helping whoever they can, and discovering in themselves and each other extraordinary reserves of courage, resourcefulness and determination.

💭 T H O U G H T S

I had previously read and enjoyed Heather Morris' other novels, and while I understand there is controversy surrounding them, I still appreciate her brining to life WWII stories and consider her worth reading. Her newest release Sisters Under the Rising Sun explores Japanese prisoner-of-war camps from a female perspective. I've read books from the male POW perspective, but this was the first from a female perspective..

The strong and resilient woman in this story were created based off the stories of women who lived and survived the Japanese prisoner-of-war camps. These women lived through horrific situations, yet the real focus of this book is on their characters, their unbroken spirits, and the friendships that blossomed.

Unfortunately, the easy-to-read writing style lacked the deeply personal level of emotion I'd been anticipating. There are so many characters that it didn't allow me as the reader to really get to know any of them that well. Additionally, because the timeline spans 3.5 years in such a short amount of time, it's no surprise I didn't get the depth I really wanted. It's certainly emotional, but I wanted so much more.

The audiobook, narrated by Laura Carmichael, is incredibly well done. The voice characterization of each woman is distinct. As music plays a significant role throughout the story, I particularly appreciated the inclusion of the Sydney Women's Vocal Orchestra performing the prison songs that helped uplift the POWs. It was this level of personal connection I'd been craving throughout the entire book.

I'd also be remiss if I didn't mention the absolutely stunning cover artwork. Just wow! As well, the extras - including an author's note detailing where she drew her inspiration from, a bibliography for further reading, excerpts from family members of which some of the characters were based, and a collection of photographs - at the end of the book added value to the story that wouldn't have been there without them.

Overall, an incredible story of women during the war that needs to be told, yet lacking the real emotional depth and connection I desperately wanted. While not my favourite of her books, the immense research that went into creating this novel is eye-opening and I'll definitely be interested in what story she chooses to tell next.

📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• fans of the female perspective historical fiction
• WWII historical fiction enthusiasts

⚠️ CW: war, genocide, violence, gun violence, physical abuse, torture, confinement, blood, injury/injury detail, medical trauma, death, drowning, grief

🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S

"I have not told this story so the women internees of the Japanese prisoner-of-war camps in Indonesia will be remembered. I have told this story so they will be known. How can you be remembered if you've never been heard of? Their stories should stand alongside those of all male poisoners of war, their sufferings no less; their courage to care for their fellow sisters who perished and their own survival should be acknowledged and honored."

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5 stars
Happy publication to Heather Morris and Sisters Under Rising Sun! Thank you to Heather Morris, Heather Martirano, and St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to read a physical copy of the book prior to its publication date.

And thank you to the author, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley ( @netgalley ) for allowing me to read an ALC (Advanced Listener 🎧 Copy). The narrator🎙️for this audiobook 🎧 is Laura Carmichael.

The ARC and ALC copies were provided to me in exchange for an honest review!

📅Sisters Under Rising Sun is now available for purchase at your local bookstore or online. The book was published on Tuesday, October 24, 2023. 📅

If you are a lover of historical fiction, please pick up a copy of this book. You will not be disappointed! Heather Morris is an incredibly talented and captivating writer! She is also known for the following popular works: The Tattooist of Auschwitz, Cilka’s Journey, and Three Sisters.

I learned so much about Japanese influence in Singapore and surrounding areas during World War II. The book follows a group of women and a young child as they embark toward safety from the Japanese upon the Vyner Brooke merchant ship leaving Singapore.

Two days after departure, the ship is the target of an air raid right off the coast of Indonesia. The ship did not survive.

After twenty four hours at sea, Sisters Nesta and Norah find safety on the beaches of a remote island temporarily before being captured by the Japanese and taken to a Prisoner of War camp. As POW’s, they experience brutality, inequality, and starvation. They see the results of diseases that are untreated and running rampant. They become fighters and educators, caregivers, and leaders. They never lose their determination to help others, to find their loved ones, and to escape to a life of safety.

Reviewers have said it best by describing the novel as a strong testament of sisterhood, bravery and friendship in the darkest of circumstances.

I am a huge fan of historical fiction books ... specifically those set during WWII. However, the fact that this one took place in the Pacific and focused on nurses who were held captive in a Japanese POW camp was a new one for me. This is not a light read. You will be appalled at the way the prisoners of war were treated. But the strength, dedication, and resilience the women demonstrated is nothing short of awesome. The fact that I listened to the audiobook version was a plus in that I was treated to the singing and orchestra voices of the chorus that some of the characters formed. The ability of these women to find joy amidst such horrible treatment was amazing. Though many did not survive the evil the Japanese army forced on them, the bond of sisterhood and family that they developed was touching. I appreciated the author’s willingness to introduce us to the characters of Nesta James, Betty Jeffrey, and Vivian Bullwinkel. I will not soon forget their story.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!

Sisters Under the Rising Sun by Heather Morris was a very compelling book. It was based on actually events and real people. Sisters Under the Rising Sun detailed the unimaginable atrocities and cruelty the Japanese army inflicted upon women and children in their POW camps during World War II. The Japanese army paid no attention to concessions that were mandated for members of foreign armies. They inflicted their harsh and brutal punishments on civilians and army nurses alike, not giving any special treatment to the nurses. Sisters Under the Rising Sun took place in Singapore and Banka Island near Indonesia from 1942 through 1945. I listened to the audiobook that was well narrated by Laura Carmichael.

Nora Chambers was a talented and accomplished musician who was living in Singapore. She was lucky to have her husband John, their eight year old daughter Sally, her aging parents, her sister Ena and her husband all with her. Word had been circulating though that it was just a matter of time before the Japanese army found their way to Singapore. Nora and John Chambers worried excessively about their daughter Sally’s safety once the Japanese imposed their wrath on the people of Singapore. Together Nora and John decided to send their eight year old daughter with Nora’s oldest sister and her two sons to find safety far away from Singapore. Nora had promised Sally that they would never be separated but Nora was left with no choice. Her husband John was still recovering from being sick and she felt compelled to remain with her elderly parents. Nora only hoped that her daughter would be safe and that she would be reunited with her one day.

Sister Nesta James was born in Wales and relocated to Australia as a young girl. As a young woman, she trained as a nurse and decided to enlist in the Australian army. Her desire was to be able to tend to wounded Allied soldiers. Nesta was stationed in Singapore when Singapore fell to the Japanese army. On February 12, 1942, Sister Nesta James found herself on the last ship of evacuees out of Singapore. The ship, Vyner Brooke, a merchant ship, was carrying mostly women and children. Among the passengers were Nora, her husband John, Nora’s sister Ena and the nurses of the Australian Army.

Just two days into their journey, the Vyner Brooke was attacked by Japanese planes flying overhead. Those aboard scrambled to locate vacant lifeboats and make their way to the top deck. Many of the women and children just jumped into the sea. After being in the sea for over twenty-four hours, the exhausted women and children that survived the attack and ordeal spotted land. The survivors had made their way to an island off the coast of Indonesia. They had landed on Banka Island. Only one hundred fifty passengers survived. Among the survivors were Norah, her husband, her sister and Nesta. Their first instinct was to look for water and food but they were soon apprehended by the Japanese army. All the survivors from the Vyner Brooke were placed in a Japanese POW camp. The Japanese military treated the civilians and the army nurses in the same way. No special concessions were granted to the army nurses. Their positions meant nothing to the Japanese in charge. The Japanese men in authority looked down upon and disrespected all women despite their status. Conditions in the POW camp were unsanitary, crowded and unsafe. Disease, sickness and starvation prevailed. Inhumane treatment was widespread.

Norah and Nesta became good friends and both women were determined to help anyone who needed help. Nesta used her medical knowledge to assist anyone that required attention. Nora applied her musical expertise to help boost the morale of the women. Both women were instrumental in helping the women in the POW camp survive their three and a half year ordeal.

Sisters Under the Rising Sun by Heather Morris was so moving. I have read all of the books that Heather Morris has written and each book continues to impress me. Sisters Under the Rising Sun was no exception. I had recently read another book that addressed the treatment the Japanese army inflicted upon Dutch women in their POW camps. Sisters Under the Rising Sun explored the fate of Singapore, the destruction of the Vyner Brooke carrying almost exclusively women and children away from Singapore and Japanese control, the controversial treatment of the captured nurses by the Japanese, the importance of music in the POW camp and the horrific treatment the women and children endured under the Japanese regime for three and a half very long years. The themes of courage, bravery, resilience, struggles, friendship, family, music and compassion were explored. I recommend listening to the audiobook version of this book. The recordings of the music Norah and her inmates performed were mesmerizing. I also appreciated hearing Heather Morris’s voice as she delivered her author notes at the end. It is always interesting hearing from the author about where their inspiration came from for the book they had written and what they learned from their research. I highly recommend this book.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of Sisters Under the Rising Sun by Heather Morris through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Heather Morris is a master of rendering heartfelt, character-driven historical fiction and this is no exception. Terrible atrocities committed by the Japanese are exemplified and the survivors, all true heroes, come alive on these pages. It was difficult to read at certain points but us a story that most definitely needed to be told. The narrator does an excellent job of conveying the urgency of the situation and the sheer terror.

Short synopsis: Set during WWII, a group of women are taken captive off the coast of Indonesia by Japanese soldiers. Their story of resilience despite brutality and starvation.

My thoughts: My oh my do I love a strong female protagonist during wartime! The women in this story are based off the stories of women who survived these situations. While this is difficult to read, their bravery, perseverance, and strength are astounding!

The audio was so well done in this, going so far as to get a choir from Australia to sing the prisoner songs, songs that uplifted and strengthened women during this trying time.

I also really enjoyed the authors note and the stories from the families at the end!

Read if you love:
- Strong women
- WWII stories based of real people
- Music
- Nurses
- sacrifice, resiliency, and bravery

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an audio version in exchange for an honest review.

Ships are ferrying horrified civilians out of Singapore as the Japanese are attacking the city. A frantic Norah with her sick husband and sister are a board the Vyner Brooke a merchant ship. Also on board is a group of Australian nurses lead by Sister Nesta James fleeing the fallen city. As they make their way across the treacherous waters they are bombed by the Japanese, sinking the Vyner Brooke. As the survivors jump ship they make their way to a close beach only to be captured and held in notorious POW camps. Nesta and Norah bond together with the women hostages as they try to survive the cruel conditions of these less than adequate camps.

I love stories centered around WWII and this is a stunning addition to the mass amount of novels set in these horrific times. Heather Morris sets her story in the Pacific and centers it around Australian nurses a subject I have not seen often. Her novel is heart wrenching, heroic and inspiring. The characters drive the story along with the hardships and devastation they faced. It is told from the dual POVs of Nesta and Norah. It is based on real women and I thought she does justice to their stories. I had not read Morris' other work but look forward to reading more from her. I had the audio version read by who did a very good job and was enjoyable to listen to.

I LOVED this book. If you have the chance to listen to it in Audio form I highly recommend it. The music in the audio book is absolutely beautiful and ties in nicely with the importance of music in the story.

I’m a huge fan of historical stories and the fact that this was a true story and opened my eyes to a part of history that I didn’t know is amazing!

A beautiful truly beautiful and important story to tell!

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for my copy of Sisters Under the Rising Sun by Heather Morris Narrated by Laura Carmichael in exchange for an honest review. It published October 24, 2023.
First off, Laura Carmichael did an excellent job narrating this book. The accents were very well done! The overall quality of this audiobook was excellent. The choir was wonderful, and I really appreciated hearing from Heather Morris, it truly added a lot to the overall book for me. Don't skip the author's note!
This is a worthy title to be shelved with other WWII novels, for sure. It has the same feel of ups and downs in the genre, and there are a lot of similarities, however, the fact that this was about real people, and not just a story sets it apart. Also the fact that it takes place in Asia, rather than Europe.

What an emotional journey is wrapped into this audiobook. And I HIGHLY recommend you listen to the audio version.

The story of several women who were imprisoned during WWII by the Japanese is one I had not heard of at all but am glad to have since realized there is much info regarding the true characters and events to research.

Sisters focuses on Norah and how she, her young daughter and sick husband are all separated as they attempt to go home. Norah is captured along with many other women and we are provided their experiences over three years time.

I found myself comparing their experiences with things I’ve read of the Holocaust and internment camps in the US and there were moments I thought to myself, things could have been so much worse. They were granted so many liberties BUT, the reality is imprisonment against your will and physical abuse by captors in different forms is horrific and inhumane no matter how mild or severe or even fatal.

One thing that kept spirits up of the imprisoned were the musical arrangements and choral performances made by some of the women. The audio book samples several instances of singing and even some full versions in the end that had me in tears. We also get mini bios of the women and even some of their captors at the end of the novel which I appreciated. I will be reading up on everything to supplement all the history I learned from this novel and I highly recommend reading, but especially listening to the audio for full effect.

Note: If you’re a Downton Abbey fan, Laura Carmichael (Lady Edith) does the most amazing voice work!!

It was fine.  I appreciated learning some history of the WW2 era that took place in a different part of the world than Europe.  However, this read like an after school special's attempt at historical fiction.  It was very saccharine and missed the mark for me.

3.5 stars, rounded up to 4*.

Having read and loved The Tattoist of Auschwitz, Cilka's Journey and Three Sisters, I knew that I was getting into emotional territory when I decided on this title.

Another WWII Historical Fiction novel, Sisters Under the Rising Sun primarily focuses on the stories of female Austrailian Army nurses who are prisoners of war of the Japanese Army who were captured feeling Singapore in 1942. I knew little to nothing of this specifically, despite having lived for nearly a decade in this region.

I appreciated the educational value of the story but grew a little bit weary of the overly wrought emotional storytelling. I did really enjoy the narration. The accents were phenomenal.

As always, delicately and sensitively written. An important piece of history, particularly womens' history.

*with thanks to NetGalley for the Audible ARC in exchange for this honest review.

Morris’s stories are always extremely powerful and moving and that’s because you know the extents of meticulous research she puts into all of her books. They’re always extremely well written and well thought out and this one is no different.

Morris says “𝙸 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚝𝚘𝚕𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚢 𝚜𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚗 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚗𝚎𝚎𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝙹𝚊𝚙𝚊𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚎 𝚙𝚛𝚒𝚜𝚘𝚗𝚎𝚛-𝚘𝚏-𝚠𝚊𝚛 𝚌𝚊𝚖𝚙𝚜 𝚒𝚗 𝙸𝚗𝚍𝚘𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚒𝚊 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚋𝚎 𝚛𝚎𝚖𝚎𝚖𝚋𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚍. 𝙸 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚝𝚘𝚕𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚢 𝚜𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚋𝚎 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠𝚗.” And this is why I’ll always continue to read her books. This is a tale less often told and it’s based on heartbreaking and haunting true story events.

While I wasn’t quite as engaged and immersed in this story like I have with her previous work, it’s still a great novel about strong women and they’re incredible determination and bravery nonetheless.

As always, make sure to stick around for the authors note for extra insight!

Fantastic! This is one of those historical fiction books that is more history than fiction and the author's writing makes it so compelling. Unlike Morris' previous books, it moves to the Pacific theater during WWII, telling of a group of women and children, including nurses in the Australian Navy, held as POW's by the Japanese. It's a story that needs to shared and remembered. I know it will stay with me for a long time. It even drove me to research some of the information which proved extremely interesting and showed how accurate and in-depth the author's research was. I thought I would share a few links below.

I strongly recommend the audiobook as the narrator is incredible. The publisher has also included music from the Sydney Women's Vocal Orchestra which greatly enhanced the story. I also appreciated the inclusion of the all-important afterword and author's note in the audiobook.

awm.gov.au for the Australian War Museum
https://swvo.wordpress.com/ for the Sydney Women's Orchestra
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZvxi... for The Captive's Hymn